Macular Degeneration Treatment Sydney
At Eye and Retina Specialists we provide specialised treatment for macular degneration with a strong focus on modern intravitreal injection therapies (anti-VEGF and complement inhibitors).
Our Sydney clinic offers personalised, efficient specialist care with continuity of treatment and streamlined appointments, avoiding long waiting times. Our specialists spend time to provide full explanations, and the opportunity is provided to patients to ask any questions at every visit.
What is Macular Degeneration ?
Macular degeneration is a condition affecting the cental part of the retina (the macula), leading to loss of sharp, central vision required for reading, driving and recognising faces.
Macular degeneration is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australians over 60 years old. The more serious form, wet macular degeneration, often requires treatment with eye injections. More recently, injections are available for advanced dry macular degeneration (atrophy).
Types of Macular Degeneration
There are two main types of age-related macular degeneration:
1. Dry Macular Degeneration
Dry macular degeneration, the more common form, is a gradual wear and tear ageing process of the retina. It can lead to worn down patches known as "geographic atrophy". Eye injections are now available to slow the process. Dry macular degeneration can transform to wet macular degeneration.
2. Wet Macular degeneration
Wet macular degeneration can cause rapid vision loss due to abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina. These new blood vessels can bleed and leak fluid. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to preserving vision. Wet macular degeneration often requires urgent treatment with eye injections to preserve vision.
Symptoms of Macular Degeneration
Symptoms may include:
• Distorted or wavy vision
• Difficulty reading
• Blurred or dark central vision
• Difficulty recognising faces
If you notice sudden changes in vision, urgent assessment is recommended.
Diagnosis of Macular Degeneration
Diagnosis of wet AMD is made through a combination of:
- clinical examination
- optical coherence tomography imaging (OCT)
- fundus fluorescein angiograph (FFA) (when required)
For wet macular degeneration it is important you see an ophthalmologist experienced in the treatment of retinal diseases as quickly as possible to confirm the diagnosis and commence appropriate treatment.
Treatment for Macular Degeneration
The most effective treatment for wet macular degeneration is a series of eye injections (anti-VEGF therapy) delivered directly into the eye. There is normally little pain felt during or after the injection.
These medications:
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Reduce leakage and swelling
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Stablise vision and reduce risk of worsening
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In many cases, improve vision
At Eye and Retina Specialists we offer dedicated expertise in intravitreal injection therapy for macular degeneration, with treatment tailored individually to each patient. Our clinic specialises in intravitreal injection therapy, using medications such as
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Eylea 2mg and Eylea HD 8mg (aflibercept)
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Vabysmo (faricimab)
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Lucentis (ranibizumab)
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Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) - for macular geographic atrophy
Treatment is tailored individually, with ongoing monitoring with OCT imaging. All operations and procedures carry risks, and our specialists will discuss this with you further during your consultation.
Why Choose Private Treatment?
Many patients are initially managed through public hospital clinics, which can involve long waiting times and have limited flexibility.
In our private clinic, patients benefit from:
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Short waiting times
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Consistency of treating specialist
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Flexible appointment scheduling
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Stream-lined injection visits
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Opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification at every visit
Injections are performed using a sterile technique by our experienced eye specialists. Free patient parking is available. Our clinic is wheel-chair accessible with lift access.
When to Seek Treatment
Early treatment is critical, particularly for wet macular degeneration. Our clinic offers rapid access appointments for patients with suspected macular disease. Contact our reception team to make an urgent appointment booking.
Fees, Rebates and Access to Care
We understand that ongoing treatment can be challenging for some patients. Patients receive a Medicare rebate that covers part of the cost of injection treatment. The Extended Medicare Safety Net increases the amount of the rebate once the threshold is reached. More information on this is available here.
Eye and Retina Specialists offers reduced pension rates for eligible patients. Where possible, our clinic supports patients with genuine need, including those transitioning from the public system, through our Retina Access Program (RAP).
At Eye and Retina Specialists, we regularly treat patients from across Sydney, including Waterloo, Zetland, Alexandria, Kensington, Randwick and surrounding areas.
Macular Degeneration Prevention
There are a number of measures patients can undertake to reduce the risk of vision impairment from macular degeneration.
1. Routine eye exams: Regular eye checks can help to detect early stages of AMD, and increase your awareness of the warning symptoms of this condition. Amsler grid monitoring (see Amsler Chart below) is a very useful tool to detect early distortion associated with wet AMD.
2. Stop smoking: People who smoke are more likely to develop macular degeneration and experience more severe visual impairment from this condition. Discuss ways to help stop smoking with your general practitioner, pharmacist or the Quit Helpline.
3. Healthy macular diet: Choose a healthy diet full of a variety of green leafy vegetables, fish, fresh fruit and a handful of nuts. These foods contain antioxidants and vitamins that may reduce your risk of macular degeneration. In particular, vegetables such as kale, spinach, broccoli, and peas have high levels of antioxidants, including lutein and zeaxanthin.
4. Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. If you need to lose weight, reduce the number of calories you eat and increase the amount of exercise you get each day.
5. Manage your other diseases. For example, if you have cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure, take your medication and follow your doctor’s instructions for controlling the condition.